MLB.com's Jane Lee blogs about the Oakland A's

With Rosales aboard, Lowrie to play some second base

Upon Jed Lowrie’s arrival in Oakland, the organization’s thinking was that he would get a chunk of playing time at nearly every infield position this season.

Yet the versatile Lowrie has only appeared at shortstop through the club’s first 23 games, in large part because of Hiro Nakajima’s absence. So that’s why there was an element of surprise to Lowrie’s name attached to second base for game No. 24.

Adam Rosales, fresh off the disabled list, drew the start at shortstop against the Orioles, and that’s where he’ll likely be whenever he’s in the same lineup as Lowrie, whose last start at second base came on Sept. 6, 2010 while with the Red Sox.

“It’s more about Rosie,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Jed’s versatility probably works against him at times. Without Rosales here, he got to play shortstop every day. He’ll still play some shortstop, but his versatility would suggest he can probably play anywhere up the middle. And Rosales’ best position is probably short.

“We’ll see where it goes, but Jed’s good anywhere up the middle, and obviously his bat speaks for itself, too.”

Lowrie entered the day with 31 hits on the season, good for a second-place tie in the American League. They’re also the most hits by an Athletic over the first 23 games of the season since Carney Lansford posted 32 in 1992. The record is 33, achieved by both Stan Javier (1994) and Ben Grieve (1998).

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